Published: Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 03:29 PM.

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Commonly thought of as a place only for checking out books and looking at encyclopedias, the public library is coming into the modern age with advances in technology and services.

Sarah Sever, head of reference at the Kinston-Lenoir Public Library, said libraries in the Neuse Regional Library System and across the country have undergone a lot of changes over the last few years.

“Whereas people would come here strictly for pleasure reading or for research for papers, now it touches so many other aspects of people’s lives,” she said. “It’s not only coming in and getting books. We have meeting spaces, people come in and get on the computers and they are applying for jobs and creating resumes. People are also going to school online and they need help with all of these different things.”

Agnes Ho, director of libraries for the Neuse Regional Library System, said she has seen a lot of changes during her 40 years working for the system.

Commonly thought of as a place only for checking out books and looking at encyclopedias, the public library is coming into the modern age with advances in technology and services.

Sarah Sever, head of reference at the Kinston-Lenoir Public Library, said libraries in the Neuse Regional Library System and across the country have undergone a lot of changes over the last few years.

“Whereas people would come here strictly for pleasure reading or for research for papers, now it touches so many other aspects of people’s lives,” she said. “It’s not only coming in and getting books. We have meeting spaces, people come in and get on the computers and they are applying for jobs and creating resumes. People are also going to school online and they need help with all of these different things.”

Agnes Ho, director of libraries for the Neuse Regional Library System, said she has seen a lot of changes during her 40 years working for the system.

“When you think of the library, the first word that usually comes to mind is ‘books,’” she said. “After 40 years, we are still dealing with books and periodicals, but books have become e-books and periodicals have become e-magazines. People can have a tablet at home and the information is still provided to them, just on a different format.”

Technology

Sever said the library started incorperating e-books about two years ago, but there were challenges due to publishers.

“It’s easy for an individual because you pay a certain amount for a book and that’s it,” she said. “But when it comes to libraries it’s ‘how many people can check it out? How many times can it be checked out? What price should it be?’ So the publishers only made certain title available.”

Sever said while there are still challenges, things are getting easier and not a day goes by without someone coming in with a tablet asking for help on how to get e-books. Tablet users can download an app to check out books. The book then stays on the device for three weeks before automatically being deleted.

“You don’t have to worry about late fees or overdue books,” she said.

Sever said the computer lab is another important feature the library is using to breach the digital divide.

“Computers are a vital part of everybody’s life and there are hardly any jobs that you can apply for without a computer,” she said. “You can’t hardly do anything without an email address, so for a decent amount of the population who do not own a computer, we are the only place they can go access those things. We are not only talking about entertainment anymore, but things that benefit people’s lives.”

Jacqueline Coefield, who is currently enrolled with Miller-Mott College, said she uses the library’s computer lab several times a week to do homework.

“I can use Microsoft Office, excel, PowerPoint and publisher,” she said. I need these programs to complete assignments for school and it helps me a great deal to be able to use the library.

The library also has faster Internet with privacy that helps prevent viruses and pop-ups. Other schools and places don’t have the amount of Internet security I have found here.”

Resident Maxine Curry said she comes to the library to send faxes and check out Blu-rays.

“It’s a one-stop shop,” she said.

Sever said residents are not confined to the lab if they want to use a computer at the library.

“We got a grant from the state library for laptops,” she said. “So not only do we have the lab, but we’ve got a bunch of laptops people can check out.”

Ho said residents can use the library’s website at any time to find out if a book is available.

“People can find out about what programs we are offering and an online catalog,” she said. “It’s really amazing the amount of big changes over the last 40 years.”

Ho said “NC live” is an important program that can be accessed in the library or on its website that helps students with their homework.

“I used to work at the reference desk 40 years ago and when a student came in and said they needed to write a contemporary literary criticism I took them to the shelf and find a book,” she said. “Right now if students need to do the project all they have to do is go online to NC Live and there are a lot of information programs available there.”

Programs

Sever said the library also offers a variety of programs, from lectures on the arts to more practical things such as couponing and gardening.

“We also have poetry contests and quiz bowls for children,” she said. “It’s a place for people with common interests to meet each other. People also help us generate ideas by giving feedback and letting us know what they want to see. It’s everyone working together.”

Five-year plan

Ho said a strategic steering committee composed of library personnel and community leaders has come up with plans to lead the library system into the future.

The committee adopted a mission, vision and goals for the next five years. The goals are to develop materials in several formats to serve the needs of the citizens, involve more people in creating library programs, enhance technology, have great engagement with he community and draw in the younger generation, enhance the quality of staff and improve library facilities.

Each goal has several sub-objectives and plans are to carry out those objectives through 2019.

Sever said the library is trying to be more involved in the community by using social media.

“We might have a YouTube channel with video about how to use e-books and self-checkout,” she said. “One of the demographics we are trying to reach is young adults to about 30. We have a solid child base and we’ve got a pretty good older adult base, but that middle age group is where we are losing people.”

Not completely changed

Ho said though there have been advances, many of the traditional library services still are intact.

“We still do story time for children,” she said. “They come every Tuesday morning to listen to a story. We still offer a reference department and answer questions because not everyone knows how to go online to look for answers. Seniors who are trying to communicate with their grandchildren through email will come to us to get answers. People who are looking for a job will ask us to help them with their resumes. We still offer personal services to the public.”

Ho said the challenge ahead is to integrate chance while still maintaining the core of the library.

“We still need books, don’t get me wrong, but we have so many other services we can offer,” she said. “The library is here to blend traditional and innovative ideas together. Our job is provide services for recreational, professional and cultural needs,” she said.

Ho said the public library is an important part of the community, even in regards to economic development.

“When you recruit a new company to the area, they want to know about what the school system can offer and the public library,” she said. “The majority of people enjoy using the public library because you can come here to find everything you need.”

Ho said the library is important regardless of economic conditions.

“When the economy is bad, people are coming in here to look for jobs,” she said.

Ho said reading is the most important tool for a student to be successful.

“if you can read, you can think, you can write and you will excel in your school,” she said. “When you do well in your school, you can go to college, plan a future career and it’s going to be wonderful. I always tell teachers and parents that the library is the key to success.”

Noah Clark can be reached at 252-559-1073 or Noah.Clark @Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @nclark763.

Vision and mission for Neuse Regional Library System

Vision: The citizens of Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties are empowered by opportunities for career advancement, lifelong learning and enrichment

Mission: To support, strengthen and enrich the diverse residents of the communities of Lenoir, Greene and Jones counties by systematically; distributing a select collection of print and digital materials. providing traditional and emerging technologies. expanding services to meet informational, educational, economic, recreational and cultural needs.